ISME Sistema SIG news update #5

ISME Sistema SIG news update #5

 

Please continue to let me have your news.

 

ISME business: The ISME Executive Committee is meeting in Moscow from 19th to 21st May.  The agenda includes the consideration of update reports from the ISME Special Interest Groups. I have been asked to complete a template containing a short report detailing any headlines, activity and issues from July 2012 to end of April 2013. The report should show clearly any issues that we feel the Executive should consider / decide upon / refer to the Board. In order to meet the deadline, please send me any comments for inclusion by Friday 3^rd May. Thank you.

 

Sweden: Thanks and congrats again to Malin and Petra et al for a great conference and for being such wonderful hosts. Eric Booth, who presented at the conference, has kindly shared the following essays with those of us who were in Sweden: The Generous Laboratory ; The Fundamentals of El Sistema.

Czech Republic: Olga Jerabkova of The Harmonie Foundation in Prague is delighted to be able to inform us that Maestro Abreu has received the Trebbia European award 2013 for support of the culture and the arts, which is annually awarded in Prague. Please see the following link for more details: http://trebbia.eu/en/trebbia-2013/.

England: Many congratulations to In Harmony Liverpool, which will be playing (and singing) at the Royal Albert Hall this summer as part of the main Proms series with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Canada: with thanks to Theodora who sent the following link to the Vimeo produced by the English Montreal School Board (EMSB - largest English school board in Quebec) for St Gabriel school's Sistema program in the neighbourhood of Pointe St Charles. The vimeo is now posted on the McConnell Foundation's website (facebook page): https://www.facebook.com/mcconnellfoundation?ref=hl. 

Portugal: with thanks to Graça who reviewed an article for Music and Arts in Action about the Venezuelan Sistema, and has now been published. The link to download the PDF is: http://www.musicandartsinaction.net/index.php/maia/issue/current. Graça also gave a presentation at the RIME conference in Exeter earlier this month: In Portugal, the creation in 2007 of the Orquestra Geração (OG) was inspired by El Sistema. Whilst most of what is known of Sistema-like projects, through publications and presentations in international forums, offers a descriptive approach to this type of musical intervention, the present research aims at the construction of systematic and critical knowledge about the Portuguese OG project around two main axis: 1) its socially inclusive target; and 2) the ways through which musical meaning is achieved in this particular community of practice. For further information, contact Graça Mota Gmota@ese.ipp.pt

 

Germany: Thomas Busch (University of Bielefeld) thomas.busch@uni-bielefeld.de also gave a presentation at the RIME conference on research into 'An Instrument for Every Child': Findings on program participation, musical self-concepts and practising behaviour. In 2008 the German Ministry for Education and Research set up an accompanying empirical research programme. One of the projects in this programme is the Bielefeld Study on Instrumental learning in Groups (BEGIn 2008 to 2013) which focuses on examining continuance in and drop-out from the programme and on the predictors for this.it also conducts research on the (pre-)conditions for instrumental learning in groups in the primary school setting.

 

USA: Elaine Sandoval gave a fascinating paper at the Soka Education Conference 2013 entitled "The Ensemble in Educating Cosmopolitanism" Elaine writes: I learned to navigate many different cultures and consider the social contexts of music. I strongly believe that it was largely through my musical experiences that I was able to develop those qualities of wisdom, courage, and compassion described by Ikeda, as well as the ability "to fuse reflective openness to the new with reflective loyalty to the known." Music-making in a variety of ensembles was, and continues to be, a fundamental part of the development of my cosmopolitan sensibilities. Contact Elaine for further information: echangsandoval@gmail.com

 

LAPhil and USC neuroscientists launch 5-year study of music education and child brain development http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/uosc-lau100912.php   Beatriz writes: We have been working very hard with the YOLA group, which is based in  L.A. So far, we have collected lots of data and scanned brains of 6-year- olds and will begin a cross-sectional comparison, collecting data and scanning brains of 9-year-olds in the program, and from a control group. We haven't analysed data yet, but will begin soon! We are still collecting data, as some children have rescheduled their brain scans. We are hoping to finish with our cohort by the end of this month. We will be presenting an overview of our study at the Society for Music Perception and Cognition in August, and she will send some preliminary findings as soon as we have them. Beatriz Ilari Assistant Professor of Music Education USC Thornton School of Music - MUS211 Los Angeles, CA 90089 Tel (213) 821-5513

 

 

The Salzburg Festival is an exciting place to be this summer with significant input from El Sistema. Check it out if you want to be in Europe over the summer.

 

Other recent news:

 

Exploring El Sistema: April 2013
Tracking the adventures of the current class of the Sistema Fellows Program at the New England Conservatory.
sistemafellows.typepad.com/my-blog/2013/04/

 

Worldwide Literature Review of El Sistema Inspired projects
Sistema Global is delighted to announce that it has commissioned a Literature Review of Projects Inspired by El Sistema from an international team of music ...
official-isme.blogspot.com/.../worldwide-literature-review-of-e...

 

Time for Cleveland's budding El Sistema music education ... - SBYOV
Time for Cleveland's budding El Sistema music education movement to expand .. .Plain DealerThe time seems ripe to consider it. Jose Antonio Abreu, visionary ...
www.simonbolivarorchestra.com/.../time-for-clevelands-buddi...

 

Richard J Hallam MBE

m 07850 634 239

fax and office phone 01908 690078

www.dickhallam.co.uk

 

Sistema-inspired Literature Review

Worldwide Literature Review of El Sistema-Inspired projects

Researchers need ALL programs to send documentation for this first
global research study.

Sistema Global has commissioned a Literature Review of Projects
Inspired by El Sistema. An international team of music education
researchers led by Dr. Andrea Creech, of the Institute of Education,
University of London. Together with colleagues from McGill University
in Canada and the Autonomous University of Chihuahua in Mexico, the
IoE researchers will be reviewing the many academic journal articles,
evaluation reports, dissertations and policy documents that have been
produced on Sistema programmes outside Venezuela in recent years.

Please send materials now; the Review is expected to be available in
July and will be widely distributed. Please send the following
information (or questions) to Andrea Creech: andrea.creech@ioe.ac.uk

The researchers are focusing on research and evaluation, so please send:

• Published research

• Unpublished research (theses and dissertations)

• Evaluation reports with evaluation instruments, if those are not
included as appendices in the report

• The researchers are also compiling a bibliography of media articles,
but will only include those in the actual review if they report
evidence (collected systematically) that has not been reported
elsewhere.

• Finally, the researchers are also compiling an overview of
programmes that identify themselves as Sistema or Sistema-inspired.
They wish to include programmes on this list even if they do not yet
have any evaluation evidence, so they would invite programmes in that
category to send documentation that includes descriptions of what they
provide, including aims, objectives and any details about how the
programme is delivered.

Sistema Global Research Committee:



Eric Booth

Richard Hallam

Marshall Marcus

Glenn Thomas



www.sistemaglobal.org


Richard J Hallam MBE
m 07850 634 239
fax and office phone 01908 690078
www.dickhallam.co.uk

Worldwide Literature Review of El Sistema Inspired projects

Worldwide Literature Review of El Sistema Inspired projects.

Sistema Global is delighted to announce that it has commissioned a Literature Review of Projects Inspired by El Sistema from an international team of music education researchers led by Dr Andrea Creech of the Institute of Education, University of London, UK. Together with colleagues from McGill University in Canada and the Autonomous University of Chihuahua in Mexico, the IOE researchers will be reviewing the many academic journal articles, evaluation reports, dissertations and policy documents that have been produced on Sistema programmes outside Venezuela in recent years. The Review is expected to be available in early July. For further information or to contribute to the research contact Andrea Creech (andrea.creech@ioe.ac.uk).

Practitioners have already started showing great interest in this initiative and positive feedback is being received: http://marshallmarcus.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/go-figure-another-sistema-no-brainer-part-2/

[ISME Sistema SIG] news update #4

Dear colleagues – one week before flying off to Gothenburg for a really stimulating international conference, (see below for details), here is more news from around the Sistema inspired world:

 

ISME news update #4

 

Sistema Europe's next meetings: Don't forget, you can join Malin and several more of us in Gothenburg next week. For further information and details of hotels please contact Ann Kjellson Ann.Kjellson@gso.se Sistema Europe meetings are only open to Sistema Europe members, but the conference is open to all.

 

London, England

Something very special happened in London last month. Future Play: Music Systems in the 21^st Century, presented by the Barbican Centre and LA Phil, as part of their Barbican International Associate Residency with Gustavo Dudamel, took place. There were concerts, masterclasses, an open rehearsal with Dudamel and an orchestra of young people from across London, pre -concert talks and films!

 

With members from Youth Orchestra Los Angeles and Heart of Los Angeles presenting as well as a keynotes from the inspirational John Adams, Peter Sellars and Richard Holloway of Sistema Scotland it is not surprising that references to El Sistema were never far away. The openness, generosity of spirit and preparedness of people to give as much time as it takes to young people and to each other that is so much a trademark of El Sistema was evident for all to see with delegates from as far afield as Germany, Holland Ireland and Israel as well as the USA.

 

And on the south side of the Thames:

Confirmation of Date: June 28, 29 30 is now confirmed as a nucleo style event based at the South Bank Centre. More details to follow.

 

Salzburg, Austria

Two exciting events are coming up in the summer: On July 27, a big choir concert will take place as part of the Festspiele. In addition to the many children of Superar Vienna, there will be delegations of other Superar projects of the different countries (Switzerland, Romania, Slovakia, Bosnia, Turkey) who will join in. The concert will involve the Caracas Youth Orchestra and several Salzburg choirs. On August 6/7, an orchestra encounter + concert is planned in Kuchl near Salzburg, where the Superar Orchestras from CH, AT, BH and "Music for peace" from Turkey will meet the Venezuelan Infantil Orch.

 

Czech concert

Many thanks and congratulations to Milada for the exciting news that the Prague Philharmonia is hoping to put on a concert in support of the Harmonie project. The hope is that this will be part of the Dvořák Prague festival and may be broadcast and could even become an annual event. Milada has been successful in engaging the media, appearing on national radio and involving the press. Please contact Milada Cholujova (cholujova@hotmail.com) for further information.

 

USA

There have been two issues of The Ensemble since the last ISME news update:

 

The Ensemble is now the Newsletter of the U.S. and Canadian El Sistema Movement.  Eric and Tricia decided it was time to include Canada in their coverage, for three main reasons: the excellent work unfolding in Canada that colleagues in the U.S. can learn from; it began to feel weird to not include them when there is so much synergy; it is El Sistema's spirit of inclusion. In this issue you will find an introduction to the work in Canada, a number of useful resources, and the announcement of Tricia's new website (which includes a complete archive of all issues of The Ensemble and her new blog). http://www.changingliveselsistema.com

 

The previous issue had, in addition to its focus on composition in El Sistema-inspired programs, some other highlights: 

 

• The Ensemble Book Club completed its focus on Drive, an archive of the conversation is available at: http://tinyurl.com/asl5qyw

 

• The December Symposium in Philadelphia included a three day discussion on promising El Sistema-inspired teaching practices.  Thanks to five Sistema Fellows who took notes and distilled them, an overview document is now available at: http://elsistemasymposium.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Philadelphia-Symposium-Teaching-Track-Summary.docx You can also access the report by going to the symposium website; go to "Teaching Seminar" under the Agenda, and links to the document appear: http://elsistemasymposium.com/?page_id=14

 

• Also in this issue ... a new program is launched, a new workshop intensive with OrchKids, a new book about El Sistema.

 

 

Los Angeles The next Take A Stand symposium in Los Angeles in February 2014 as part of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela residency in partnership with the LA Phil. A survey of Tchaikovsky's orchestral works under Gustavo Dudamel will conclude in a performance combining both orchestras. The TchaikovskyFest includes a wide spectrum of additional events, including the TAKE A STAND symposium and community activities.

 

Oklahoma City Jamie Bernstein, a writer, arts advocate and daughter of composer Leonard Bernstein, will be the keynote speaker at Oklahoma City University's "Music Transforms" symposium April 13 that will introduce the renowned Venezuelan music-education program El Sistema to Oklahoma. Bernstein's keynote speech begins at 10:30 a.m. in the atrium of the Bass School of Music at N.W. 25th Street and Blackwelder Avenue. Admission and lunch are free, but pre-registration is required by e-mailing jsgodinez@okcu.edu. The half-day session is free to the public and is particularly geared toward community leaders, educators, musicians and parents who are interested in the program.

In addition to Bernstein, 20-minute presentations will be given by Christine Witkowski, director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's YOLA at HOLA, the acclaimed program of Gustavo Dudamel; Stanford Thomas, CEO of "Play on Philly!" and chairman of the U.S. National Alliance of El Sistema-inspired programs; and Jose Luis Hernandez-Estrada, executive director of the newly established El Sistema Oklahoma.

The symposium is co-sponsored by St. Luke's United Methodist Church and Oklahoma City University. For additional information, contact Hernandez-Estrada at (405) 208-4921 or jhernandez@okcu.edu

New Mexico Philharmonic 2012-2013 Educational Programming: Young Musicians Initiative Program (El Sistema)

The NMPhil will provide El Sistema to 40 elementary school children in a pilot project during school year 2012-2013 in one Albuquerque public school. They are committing three years to this pilot program to ensure it receives the best start, and the best opportunity for assessment and adjustment as time progresses. The announcement goes on to state that the promise of the Sistema approach is that it invites a rediscovery of the purposes and processes of classical music. As the U.S. struggles to find the relevance of classical music to more than the small "arts club" percentage of their populace, El Sistema proposes answers that can change not only the life trajectories of at-risk children, but the trajectory of at-risk arts culture.

 

Sistema Fellows: Interested in singing and Special Needs? Here are some blogs by one of  Sistema 2013 cohort  http://sistemafellows.typepad.com/my-blog/2013/03/enjoying-that-moment.html more blogs are available at: http://eliseseymour.blogspot.co.uk/2013_03_01_archive.html 

 

Lauren Silberman silberman11@gmail.com 650.296.7120 a Masters Candidate in Arts Administration from the University of Oregon, is conducting her final research project on the growth of El Sistema is still happy to have any completed questionnaires from anyone willing to participate.

 

With all good wishes

 

Richard

 

Richard J Hallam MBE

IHSE Director and Trustee

m 07850 634 239

www.ihse.org.uk

www.dickhallam.co.uk

 

SISTEMA NEWS

1.       International Sistema research groups(i) ISME Sistema SIG: The next ISME world conference will be in Brazil at Port Alegre from July 20 to 25 2014. Conference has performing groups as well as research presentations and seminars but is only open to ISME members. Anyone can join. See http://www.isme.org/2012/129-special-interest-groups-sigs#sig3 or contact me for further information. rhallam@ihse.org.uk

(ii) For those interested in the international organisation of El Sistema, a new LinkedIn group Sistema Research was started last year by Marshall Marcus, Glenn Thomas, Eric Booth and me, as a subgroup of Sistema Global, to discuss evaluation and research work on Sistema inspired projects worldwide. In tandem with this Marshall set up 'SERA' (Sistema Evaluation & Research Archive) on Google Drive with the aim of cataloguing all significant Sistema research and evaluation work worldwide. SERA currently has about 50 members from the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, France, Sweden, Switzerland and South Korea. You can join the LinkedIn group by following the link above, and details of SERA and how to join it can be found at http://wp.me/Pohgn-g4 . Marshall also wrote a recent piece about Sistema research work at http://wp.me/Pohgn-gg . 

(iii) Research proposal: Venezuela's El Sistema programme and its international replications and imitations across the globe have amazed millions of people worldwide during the last few decades. As an integral part of this activity, El Sistema's work has also tangibly demonstrated through concerts, performances and ongoing work that music and playing in an orchestra can help disadvantaged children, and achieve positive social change.

A new field is now growing in which such tangible demonstrations are beginning to be investigated in formal evaluation and research processes that can be used to accurately judge the outcomes of El Sistema work. Such evaluation and research is critical for the reflective capacities of Sistemas, and for the funding, political, media, social, cultural and education institutions that comment upon or have relationships and potential relationships with Sistemas.

Sistema Global is interested in hearing from researchers with relevant credentials who wish to carry out a Sistema Evaluation and Research Literature Review so that as the evaluation and research field for El Sistema work grows, there can be an accurate picture of what already exists.

Proposals, together with suggested timescales and any cost implications are welcome. Please email your outline proposal to admin@sistemaeurope.org; eeebbb@aol.com; glenn@gcthomas.com; and rhallam@ihse.org.uk to arrive by Friday March 15^th.

(iv) In Harmony Liverpool Research Network: funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The network brings together multi-disciplinary researchers and scholars from the national and international In Harmony and El Sistema communities, including music educationalists; social scientists, anthropologists, psychologists and researchers of cultural policy; public health researchers, economists and political scientists. The network also includes members of professional practice, policy and governance communities, such as cultural organisations, schools and educational bodies, health agencies and social service providers, local and national government representatives. What will the network do? Planned activities include three full-day research workshops and online debates. More news to follow as I get it.

(v) Lukas Pairon <lukaspairon@gmail.com is focussing on studying, over a span of several years, young musicians in a conflict-stricken area such as Gaza (Palestine) and young musicians confronted with and/or participating in violence in Kinshasa (DR Congo) and European cities.  He will do his research through in-depth interviews, using life-narrative accounts research and analysis methodology.  He says that his study is not about how music can bring peace, but about whether and, if so, how the study and active practice of music impacts the personality and views of youngsters and young adults who are in or come out of a life which is affected by conflict and/or violence. Contact Lukas directly if you are interested in pursuing this further.

(vi) I gave a presentation in Leuven, Belgium, at the 21^st EAS conference on The Reflective Teacher on February 14^th. This on-going research is looking at how teaching as part of a Sistema inspired programme in England influences the teachers' approach. The intention is to extend this work internationally, based on the pilot in England. Contact me if you wish to be involved or to know more. rhallam@ihse.org.uk

(vii) Andrea Creech (Institute of Education, University of London and ISME Board member) and I are submitting a proposal for a further piece of research – working title: The Pedagogy of Social Action Programmes through Music: Principles and Practice. Contact me if you wish to know more. rhallam@ihse.org.uk

2.       Brazilian Brilliance

Vanessa Rodrigues is currently in the process of incorporating Brazil Strings as a Canadian not-for-profit organization. You can find out more about this project at the following website: http://www.brazilstrings.org. Vanessa's two main objectives are to assist Canadian would-be volunteer string teachers to participate in similar projects as the one she is currently involved in in Rio de Janeiro, and also to foster exchanges between the Brazilian students and Canadian students participating in similar El Sistema-inspired programs in Canada. Contact Vanessa if you need more information: Vanessa Rodrigues vanessa.rodrigues@brazilstrings.org

3.       Colleagues in Canada

i) Project Sistema, Canada:  A "Needs Assessment" Study

Following a rapid growth of Sistema-inspired initiatives in Canada in the last five years, the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and NAC Foundation convened Canadian Sistema leaders to form a steering committee and commissioned a Needs Assessment Report in anticipation of the formation of a national Sistema organization.

The National Steering Committee was composed of the following Sistema Leaders in Canada:

1.       Tanya Derksen (Director of Education, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra)

2.       Tina Fedeski (The Leading Note Foundation's OrKidstra program, Ottawa)

3.       Ken MacLeod (Sistema New Brunswick)

4.       Darlene Nuqingaq (Iqaluit Music Society; Nunavut Educational Leadership Development Coordinator)

5.       Theodora Stathopoulos (Viva Sistema!, Quebec Music Education Association, Montreal)

6.       David Visentin (Sistema Toronto)

7.       Kathryn Walker (Saint James Music Academy, Vancouver)

The assessment process was led by Geneviève Cimon, Director of Music Education at the National Arts Centre (planning and management) and Inga Petri, President of Strategic Moves (research, facilitation, strategy) and author of the report, in collaboration with the seven-member National Steering Committee.

On December 15, 2012 the National Steering Committee, with participation of invited guest Jonathan Govias, convened in a workshop facilitated by Inga Petri.

The following additional leaders, participated in the survey or workshop:

1.       Ashley Dickey (Brio Music, London)

2.       José Duque (International Avenue Arts and Culture Centre, Calgary)

3.       Minerva Figueroa (El Sistema Aeolian, London)

4.       Susan Naccache (Esperanza Music Project, Mississauga) 

5.       Margaret Tobolowska (The Leading Note Foundation's OrKidstra program, Ottawa)

6.       Stephen Wolsley (program associated with Southdale Chaplaincy, London)

Similarly, the following individuals had contributed information and their perspectives during the initial proposal preparation consultation or during the needs assessment phase:

1.       Jessica Balboni (Director of Orchestra Leadership Academy, League of American Orchestras)

2.       Eric Booth (Sistema USA)

3.       Katherine Carleton (Orchestras Canada)

4.       Jonathan Govias (Abreu Fellow, Symphony Nova Scotia)

5.       Richard Hallam (In Harmony Sistema England, ISME Sistema SIG)

6.       Brian Levine (Glenn Gould Foundation)

7.       Dr. Judith Marcuse (International Centre of Art for Social Change)

8.       Marshall Marcus (In Harmony Sistema England, Sistema Europe, Sistema Africa)

9.       Dr. Ann Patteson (Director of Research, Royal Conservatory of Music)

10.   Dantes Rameau (Abreu Fellow, Atlanta Music Project)

11.   Dalouge Smith (Executive Director, San Diego Youth Symphony)

12.   Glenn Thomas (Sistema Global)

13.   Stanford Thompson (Abreu Fellow, Play on, Philly!)

14.   Jason van Eyk (ArtsSmarts)

During the December 2012 Workshop findings from the needs assessment research were vetted and key roles that a national entity could play in Canada were outlined. The day-long discussion revealed a consensus on the positive role for a national Sistema organization in Canada.

--------------------------------------------

This report to the ISME #2 Newsletter was prepared by using excerpts and data from the Final Needs Assessment Report entitled Towards a National Sistema Network, written by Inga Petri, "Strategic Moves".

Respectfully submitted by Theodora Stathopoulos (theodoraks@gmail.com), ISME Board of Directors member

ii) The Canadian Music Educators' Association/L'Association canadienne des musiciens éducateurs (CMEA/Acme) writes a position paper on the Sistema movement in Canada (November 2012).

This is possibly the first music educators' organization to write a position paper in order to present the music educators' collective perspective on Sistema programming within a country where music education is part of the elementary and high school curriculum. Furthermore, the paper attempts to shed light on the impact and benefits Sistema – inspired programs can have on Canadian children. In conclusion, notwithstanding certain negative aspects of such programs, the CMEA/Acme endorses Sistema-inspired initiatives based on their promise for social transformation and their ability to, potentially, make a positive contribution to music education in Canada.

The full paper is available to download from the CMEA/Acme website: http://cmea.ca/position-papers/

Respectfully submitted by Theodora Stathopoulos, President, Canadian Music Educators' Association/L'Association canadienne des musiciens éducateurs (CMEA/Acme)

(iii) Noemi Weis writes: I wanted to share with all that we now have a study guide to accompany our film Teaching the Life of Music that has been prepared by Curriculum Services Canada. We are hoping that this will help educators see the value of sharing the film in class and be inspired to bring Sistema like programs to their communities and schools. If any of you are interested in bringing the study guide to your community, please send me an email and will discuss. Noemi Weis noemi@filmblanc.com

4.       Sistema Europe Members
Sistema Europe has representation from 24 countries, involving 31 organisations and 29 nucleos with projects either having started or about to start. If you are in Europe and are not linked to this group, do let me know. rhallam@ihse.org.uk

EU funding applications
(i) The application for funds for the ESEDP (El Sistema European Development Programme) was formally submitted and we await a decision on its success shortly. Many thanks to Superar for co-ordinating this initiative. Anyone registered as an associate in this project will receive funds towards international meetings between 2013 and 2015 if the application is successful. Contact me if you wish to know more about this group. rhallam@ihse.org.uk

(ii) I have been leading a proposal from In Harmony Sistema England (IHSE) on a potential EU countries + Canada submission. IHSE will lead the project and take on most of the workload. The plan is to develop the submission by April, agree final details at a meeting of Sistema Europe in Sweden on April 20^th and submit the application before the May 1^st 2013 closing date. Please let me know if you want to be involved in any way. rhallam@ihse.org.uk

Future meetings of Sistema Europe

(iii) Sistema Europe's next scheduled meeting will be in Gothenburg 20 April 2013 provisionally from 16.00 to 18.00. From April 17 to 20 Gothenburg will host the fourth El Sistema Festival Side by Side! Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of Music and Drama and the City of Gothenburg welcomes anyone who is interested in knowing more to the festival with concerts, lectures, workshops, debates, international guests and lots of meetings. You can book a ticket to the big concert with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and El Sistema in Gothenburg on www.gso.se . At 13.00 and 15.00, immediately prior to our meeting on Saturday, 20/4 2013 there will be two Side by Side concerts. http://www.elsistema.se/?page_id=756 Presenters at the conference include Eric Booth; Nicola Killean; Marshall Marcus; Tricia Tunstall.

(iv) Following the meeting in Sweden meetings may take place in London end of June 2013, and Salzburg in the last week of July 2013. We are all hoping that the Salzburg meeting may focus on how established Sistemas can help new, aspiring and recently formed Sistemas. Marshall is discussing this with the Festival and Superar.  

Potential Save the Date(v) Marshall Marcus is currently working on a weekend project for 29-30 June 2012 in London which will see a joint presentation of Sistema work from many English music education and Sistema inspired organisations, together with a symposium looking at the questions, what makes for a successful translation of El Sistema in developed western democracies,  and what successful models currently exist for that translation? More details to follow.

                                     

Classical:Next

(vi) Etienne Abelin (Switzerland), Marshall Marcus (England and CEO of the EUYO) plan to attend the 'classical:next' conference in Vienna between May 29 and June 2^nd. They will lead a networking meeting, "Sistema Europe" in a semi-formal setting and will invite other interested delegates to join in to find out how to join the network or to cooperate with us. Some of the time will be used to discuss how this cooperation could be put into effect. For details of registration see: http://www.classicalnext.com/delegates/registration

5.       English projects get inspired

A delegation of 14 people from 7 English Sistema inspired programmes has just returned from a trip to Venezuela. For further information about the trip contact rhallam@ihse.org.uk or visit http://www.ihse.org.uk/venezuela-trip; http://www.ihse.org.uk/sistema-passion; http://www.ihse.org.uk/seeing-is-believing

6.       News update from France

Congratulations to Pascale Macheret! The creation of Passeurs d'Arts El Sistema-France is announced. Their first "Godmother and Godfathers" are: Alexandra Soumm (violinist),  Thomas Leleu (2112 award revelation classical music tuba) and Tarsisio Barreto Ceballo,conductor of Lara Symphony orchestra, Venezuela. Their projects and objectives are to apply the principles of El Sistema in France and create 23 pilot schools in France between now and 2018 .  www.passeursdarts.org

7.       News from Ireland:

Sistema Symposium: Lisa Grossman (Ireland) attended the Social Action Through Music Symposium, which took place in Philadelphia US, December 3-5, 2012, Thanks to Lisa for the following insight:

"I was able to go Philadelphia, and it was incredibly interesting. Most representatives were from America, but there were also people from New Zealand and Armenia. The current Abreu fellows are compiling two reports at the moment based on all the things we talked about in focus groups, and those reports should be published in the next few weeks. One report will focus on teaching practices and the other will look at things from an administrative point of view. Given the range and depth of the many discussions I am sure that these reports will serve as wonderful guidelines for the future of Sistema inspired programmes. Lisa is very happy for people to contact her if they would like to know more. lisagrosman@gmail.com  She also writes "One little gem that I picked up is that the CEO of the Philadelphia nucleo "Play on Philly", Stanford Thompson, sends an invoice to the mayor of Philadelphia every six months, for the amount of money he estimates that his project is saving the city overall. The Mayor has yet to pay, but now he comes to see the kids play in concerts!"

University Concert Hall in Limerick will host 'Express Yourself' will take place on 21^st June 2013 at 1pm to celebrate Ireland's Love: Live Music Day. All 300 children from Sing Out with Strings will take to the stage to perform their own compositions, with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and special guests. This concert will also celebrate their 5^th birthday. The intention is to follow the concert with a day of workshops for Community Musicians but details on this are yet to be confirmed. Contact Kathleen Turner, Community Engagement Manager, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Tel. +353 61 234632, Email:  Kathleen.Turner@ul.ie for further information.

8.       Information from Israel

Dr Adena Portowitz from the Givat Washington Academic College, Israel,  visited In Harmony Lambeth and a number of the English First Access programmes earlier this month. Adena is developing a teacher training course and would be interested in hearing from colleagues who want to know more. Her email address is: adena.portowitz@BIU.ac.il.

9.       Exciting developments in Italy

An exciting training programme started in January in Lombardy involving workshops for teachers and cooperation between active nucleos. Watch this space for more news from Maria in the next update. maria.majno@gmail.com

10.   Congratulations to Portugal

Etienne Abelin (Switzerland) writes: "I just came back from Lisbon where Antonio Wagner showed me a school of Orquestra Geracao, wonderful, a real delight!" http://www.orquestra.geracao.aml.pt/ Congratulations to all involved in Portugal.

11.   Sistema USA

(i)                  I have placed copies of the December, January and February monthly Sistema US 'The Ensemble' magazine in the Google Drive 'Publications by other organisations' Folder, giving a feel for what is going on in the Sistema world in the US. https://drive.google.com/?tab=wo&authuser=0#folders/0B9V1AkgQ8qNjai1IVXIyUXFJZVU Contact theensemblenl@gmail.com if you wish to receive the magazine directly.

(ii)                Congratulations to newly elected Board of Directors of National Alliance of El Sistema Inspired Programs: The new Board of Directors of the National Alliance has been elected! They are: Eric Barth, Mark Churchill, Laura Jekel, Camille Kolles, Richard Mukamal, Albert Oppenheimer, Anna Pietraszko, Delia Raab-Snyder, Rey Ramirez, Aurelia Rocha, Mark Sarich, Patrick Slevin, and Stanford Thompson. Bios and reasons for coming onto the board can be found at the Alliance website: www.musicassociation.wordpress.com. Next, the Board of Directors will begin meeting, electing officers and getting the work of the Alliance off the ground. We hope that you will offer them your support as they begin to make the Alliance a valuable tool for all the programs and children you are nurturing and to make the inspiration of El Sistema felt across the nation. Visit el Sistema USA at: http://elsistemausa.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

12.   Sistema Fellow Elaine Sandoval writes:

I'm writing this from California, where I've just had the opportunity to present a paper on El Sistema and the ensemble in educating cosmopolitanism at this year's Soka Education Conference, held at my alma mater. My presentation represents a personal point of reflection and departure. Preparing it has sent my previous Sistema research through the prism of my experiences this year as a Sistema Fellow at New England Conservatory. At the same time, it closes a chapter; I intuit a fresh start in my inquiry that will begin when I arrive in Venezuela a week from today to experience firsthand the movement that brings us together.

Preparing for this conference has had me digging through my previous writing on El Sistema and music education, but more importantly, reimagining these ideas from my new perspective as a fellow. It may seem paradoxical, but I've realized the extent to which my firsthand involvement in the Sistema field this year has enabled encounters with other likeminded work. I chose to spend the fall fieldwork residency portion of my fellowship in New York City, and I forged connections with a number of non-Sistema music and arts programs which identify with similar social goals.  I've long been fascinated by the process of Sistema as it globalizes, and these encounters provided me with new vision and conviction of Sistema working in the US. At the same time, they also expanded my understanding of what Sistema can and must learn from other good work, and how much potential the movement still has to grow into.

Balancing this renewed interest in informing Sistema with other work is an appreciation for the Sistema network which I've gotten to know even better as a fellow. In December at the Social Action through Music Symposium in Philadelphia, I supported teaching artists from Sistema programs as they grappled with ideas of promising classroom practice. Just days following, I was able to participate in the first-ever New York City seminario, watching students from five Sistema programs play together and rehearse with members of the Simon Bolivar. I believe the Sistema movement's strength lies in its network, and I look forward to increased collaboration, particularly in research and inquiry, as the movement and excitement grow.

As I depart for Venezuela, my preparation has, perhaps yet again paradoxically, involved shedding my expectations and specific learning goals –I'm seeking simply to live and breathe Sistema as much as I can in those few weeks. However, I will step into Caracas with a renewed sense of the interconnectedness in our networks, both within the now global Sistema field and within the larger ecosystem of music education. I seek to somehow engage these networks in my experience, to somehow contribute my bit to the strength of our movement by enabling others to vicariously live and breathe Sistema through my humble Venezuelan experiences. I thus invite your dialogue regarding Venezuela and other aspects of the Sistema Fellows Program: echangsandoval@gmail.com.

13.   Sistema Global

(i)                  Marshall Marcus and I are exploring closer links with Sistema USA via conversations with Eric Booth and Glenn Thomas as part of Sistema Global.

(ii)                Also, hosted by Sistema Global, Sistema USA launched The Ensemble Book Club on February 1. It is an experiment to see if they can advance their practice through online discussion, learning together without having to be in the same room. The focus is currently on the book 'Drive' by Daniel Pink, which reports the research on intrinsic motivation; and the group is exploring what this means for teaching and environment-building in El Sistema-inspired programs. Three colleagues shared some thoughts in a podcast, as a teaser to start everyone's thinking: http://tinyurl.com/bkgdlrv.  Eric Booth writes that "we also hope to learn how a facilitated online discussion can enhance our understandings and practices. Start reading!"

(iii)               Marshall Marcus has just returned from Sphinx's inaugural convocation about diversity in the performing arts – see http://marshallmarcus.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/voice-power-and-the-fruits-of-difference/ for his interesting blog

To join The Ensemble Book Club  (which is a Sistema Global subgroup on LinkedIn), go to this address http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Ensemble-Book-Club-4814362/about, and click on "Join Subgroup" (if you are already a Sistema Global member)" or "sign up" if you are not, and follow the prompts. Instructions also appear in the issue. 

With thanks again to everyone who has contributed to this newsletter. Please continue to let me have your news and I will collate and circulate it. Please also let me have your feedback regarding the format and content of this ISME Sistema SIG News email.

Richard

Richard J Hallam MBE

ISME Sistema SIG Chair

MEC Treasurer

IHSE Director and Trustee

halla@globalnet.co.uk

www.dickhallam.co.uk

www.mec.org.uk

www.isme.org

www.ihse.org.uk

Webex session- Facilitating learning in small groups: interpersonal dynamics and task dimensions-Wed 13 March at 5.00 pm.

Open Seminar:

Facilitating Learning in Small Groups:
Interpersonal dynamics and task processes

Dr Andrea Creech

Wednesday 13th March 5.00 pm
Room 938, Institute of Education, University of London

part of:

FIFTH SERIES OF WEBINARS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ARTS

The Series of Webinars for Professional Development in the Arts aims
to provide
opportunities for college students, professors, practitioners
and researchers to participate
in The Fifth Series will be now simultaneously transmitted at
the Institute of Education
(London), Veracruzana, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California,
Musics R.E.D. Group, CENIDIM-
INBA, Gettysburg College, Universidad Panamericana, Conservatorio
de Música de
Chihuahua, and Lake Forest College.

Facilitating Learning in Small Groups: Interpersonal dynamics and task processes
Small groups can be a powerful context for learning. With
the right tasks and effective
facilitation, students can learn to collaborate, explore new
ideas and build new
understandings together. This session will explore some general
principles and practices
of facilitating small groups. We will discuss issues
relating to the interpersonal and the
task dimensions of group processes. Participants in the
session will be encouraged to
consider examples from their own practice through these
theoretical lenses. Illustrative
case study examples from musical contexts will be presented.
Most musical genres
involve communication and collaboration in groups, yet there
has been little emphasis in
instrumental music pedagogy on how facilitators may most
effectively support learning in
small arts disciplines and will explore how facilitators, generally,
might maximise the potential for
creative, collaborative and effective learning in groups.

ISME Sistema SIG News Update #3

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ISME Update 3 2013

Maestro Abreu's acceptance speech for the TED award (17 mins well worth listening to!) The El Sistema music revolution - Jose Antonio Abreu - YouTube

ISME related news

Beatriz Ilari writes that in Bahia, for example, Group Neojibá is doing a wonderful job and that there are many other groups as well. Beatriz compiled a list for the ISME conference world conference in Greece in 2012. Beatriz will be able to let me have further information if this is of interest to anyone.

Beatriz also plans to attend the ISME world conference in Porto Alegre in 2014 by which time she hopes to have some results from her study. Here is a press release that came out in October: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/uosc-lau100912.php Beatriz says that they have been working very hard with the YOLA group, which is based in L.A. So far, they have collected lots of data and scanned brains of 6-year-olds and will begin a cross-sectional comparison, collecting data and scanning brains of 9-year-olds in the program, and from a control group. They haven't analyzed data yet, but will begin soon!

Canada

The Canadian Music Educators Association (CMEA/Acme) is delighted to announce the release of the latest addition to their Research to Practice Biennial Book Series entitled Personhood & Music Learning: Connecting Narratives and Perspectives, edited by their Senior Editor Dr. Susan O'Neill. There is also a press kit for other volumes in the series. Theodora Stathopoulos encourages us to consider using these excellent resources  in our teaching and/or research. The books may be purchased online by visiting cmea.ca and adds NB: If these books are not already in your university libraries, please consider requesting that they be added to the library's collection. For more information please contact the Chair of the CMEA/Acme Publications Advisory Committee Dr. Ed Wasiak, and/or CMEA/Acme's Senior Editor Dr. Susan O'Neill

Theodora Stathopoulos also shared this link to Conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim's youth orchestra joining Arabs and Israelis: http://us.cnn.com/video/?iid=article_sidebar#/video/international/2013/02/01/amanpour-daniel-barenboim-orchestra-middle-east.cnn

Newsletters

To be included on the circulation list for USA's The Ensemble contact theensemblenl@gmail.com

For inclusion on the circulation list for England's Ensemble contact: Reynaldo Trombetta IHSE rtrombetta@ihse.org.uk

To sign up for Sistema Scotland's Big Noise's e-bulletin visit: http://makeabignoise.org.uk/

Are there any other newsletters out there that you would like to share? Let me have the contact addresses and I will include them so that colleagues can sign up.

Research

Globalisation of Sistema

http://globalizingelsistema.wordpress.com/?goback=%2Egde_4680064_member_218231253 This study is part of a research project called Globalizing El Sistema, conducted by Lauren Silberman, a Masters Candidate from the University of Oregon in the Arts and Administration Program. Information gathered will be used to create a publicly available cultural map of El Sistema as well as a needs assessment for international support and networking structures. The purpose of this qualitative study is to gather a holistic picture of the worldwide social development and classical music phenomenon known as El Sistema.

Europe

Sistema Europe's next meeting: Don't forget, you can join Malin and several more of us in Gothenburg in April. For further information and details of hotels please contact Ann Kjellson Ann.Kjellson@gso.se

Armenia Advances:

Anna Mikaelian Meschian <annamikme@gmail.com> writes to inform us that some wonderful progress has been made with Sistema Armenia.  Anna has been able to secure a "fiscal sponsor" - the Fund for Armenian Relief, who will act as a parent organization for as long as is needed before forming an NGO.  FfAR will take care of most of the administrative aspects of the organization, deal with the government, provide tax-exempt status and much more.  Anna's current plan is to start with a 2-week workshop/festival at the end of August (19th-31st) and launch the first nucleo on September 2nd, 2013 in Yerevan.  The nucleo will start with choir and percussion, and will begin rehearsing as a string orchestra in November 2013.  This nucleo will also serve as a training facility for teachers throughout the country.  The children of the nucleo will often travel to various regions of the country and play music together with the locals.  (This will serve to develop their leadership skills as well as engaging them as citizens of their country).

Starting in late August, Anna will also have their first "branch" in the small town of Talin, an hour outside of the capital.  Anna says that "This is a music school with some wonderful people who truly want to create an El Sistema nucleo for the kids in their town and surrounding villages."  Due to lack of teachers, Anna plans to start with a choir (a small choir already exists) and has found a sponsor for this future nucleo, who will build them a new center from ground-up.  

Anna also has a preliminary agreement to work together with UNICEF Armenia on this project - the youth orchestra they have been sponsoring for a couple of years will become the leadership orchestra for Sistema Armenia.  

Finally Anna writes that she is collaborating with the Media Lab at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) on creating a new technology that may be of use for Sistema worldwide.  They are going to use Sistema Armenia as an open-air lab to find ways to use (new) technology to make the project more successful.

Surely Anna is an example to us all for energy, focus and 'joining up' initiatives to produce an even greater impact.

Austrian Success

I am delighted to inform you that Superar Austria's EU project proposal has been selected for the grant. You will find this information on: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/culture/funding/2012/selection/documents/strand_1-2-1/1-list-of-selected-projects.pdf . The project "ESEDP" is listed as no. 63. The project will officially start on 1st May 2013.

Congratulations too to Carmen Hiti in Croatia who is in the early stages of starting a Sistema inspired programme. We all wish you well!

England's Ensemble

In Harmony Sistema England Just too late for inclusion in the last news update is this edition of 'Ensemble' England's quarterly newsletter. (Not to be confused with The Ensemble – Sistema USA's newsletter). http://ihse.org.uk/newsletter/ensemble03.html

February 2013     www.ihse.org.uk

EnsembleEnsemble

In Harmony • Sistema England's quarterly newsletter

Irish Initiative:

Free to attend for any Sistema Europe colleagues: University Concert Hall in Limerick will host 'Express Yourself' will take place on 21^st June 2013 at 1pm to celebrate Ireland's Love: Live Music Day. All 300 children from Sing Out with Strings will take to the stage to perform their own compositions, with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and special guests. This concert will also celebrate their 5^th birthday. Kathleen hopes to follow the concert with a day of workshops for Community Musicians but details on this are yet to be confirmed. Contact Kathleen Turner, Community Engagement Manager, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Tel. +353 61 234632, Email:  Kathleen.Turner@ul.ie for further information.

Swedish Sistema's expand:

Malin Aghed malin@elsistema.se writes that El Sistema is now in all 10 parts of Gothenburg city, and in 5 other cities. Malin is also helping Umeå to think through the starting of their El Sistema. Is this the most northerly El Sistema in the world?

USA
Afghan Orchestra

Thanks to Erica Donald for information about the Afghan Orchestra's tour of the US. They sold out Carnegie Hall and also played for John Kerry on his first day as Secretary of State of the US (he told them he loved music and had played in a rock band, which the kids loved!). An example of media coverage of the tour can be found at: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50742691#50742691.

Choral in Atlanta: Those interested in choral aspects of Sistema inspired programmes may find Amplify of interest: Atlanta Music Project launches AMPlify - Exploring El Sistema; http://atlantamusicproject.org/amp-choral/launch-of-amplify/

Marshall Marcus attended Sphinx's inaugural convocation about diversity in the performing arts – see http://marshallmarcus.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/voice-power-and-the-fruits-of-difference/ for his interesting blog

Sistema Fellows:

Visit http://sistemafellows.typepad.com/my-blog/2013/02/venezuela-the-view-from-our-hotel.html for information regarding the Sistema Fellows programme with several interesting blogs in the archives. Too numerous to mention, but if you haven't come across this site, you will enjoy reading the content.

Please continue to keep me informed of any information you would like to share.